Tony Bennett, Ravinia through the years: Venue recalls special nights with legendary performer

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HIGHLAND PARK (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - For decades, Tony Bennett regularly played Ravinia. Today, he is being missed and fondly remembered.

Bennett performed at Ravinia more than 40 times.

“How can I be treated better than the way I’ve been treated at Ravinia?” he reflected ahead of his memorable 2015 duo tour with Lady Gaga. “It’s so beautiful there to feel all the citizens of the Chicago area cheering me on. The Chicago audience has been so great to me through the years, they’ve kept me right on top.”

Erik Soderstrom is the Senior Artistic Producer at Ravinia.

“ I have a heavy heart because Tony was such a huge part of Ravinia over the years, decades in fact. He was such a gracious man and an amazing artist,” Soderstrom said.

An oil painting done by Tony Bennett, called “Ravinia: Music Under the Stars,” was gifted to the venue and is on display.

Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett's oil painting gifted to Ravinia Photo credit Ravinia
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Featured Image Photo Credit: Ravinia